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Published on January 20, 2025
Texas Solar Farms Employ Thousands of Sheep for Sustainable Land ManagementSource: Unsplash / Martin Bisof

In the sun-drenched expanses of rural Texas, an unusual fusion of solar energy and pastoral farming is taking shape. Large-scale solar farms, essential in the nation's push toward renewable energy, have found a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to manage their expansive grasslands.

According to a report from KXAN, in Milam County, Texas, SB Energy’s solar project, which is considered the fifth-largest in the U.S., is harnessing the power of roughly 3,000 sheep to manage the vegetation on its 4,000 acres. This alternative to traditional lawn maintenance not only aligns better with the ethos of renewable energy by avoiding gas-powered mowers, but it also provides support to the local sheep and wool markets.

This practice, known as solar grazing, is rising in concert with the solar industry's growth. It's part of a broader approach termed agrivoltaics, which blends solar energy production with agriculture. Over 60 projects involving solar grazing are now active across the U.S., as per the National Renewable Energy Laboratory data, with participation from 27 states as noted by the American Solar Grazing Association.

For local sheepherders like JR Howard, this movement is more than a boon—it's a revolution. Starting in 2021, Howard's initial foray into solar grazing has now metamorphosized into Texas Solar Sheep, a full-scale operation that employs 26 individuals and over 8,000 sheep, "Just the growth has been kind of crazy for us," Howard told KXAN.

However, the long-term environmental impact of solar grazing remains an area ripe for investigation. Nuria Gomez-Casanovas, assistant professor in regenerative system ecology at Texas A&M University, highlighted uncertainties such as soil viability for future agriculture, "We really have more questions than answers," Gomez-Casanovas stated in an interview with KSTP. Nevertheless, this innovative synergy of solar power and sheep grazing suggests a sunny outlook for both energy and agriculture in Texas.